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One-Off Cadmino: 1961 Cadillac Pickup Conversion

Someone did a really nice job of converting a relatively ordinary 1961 Cadillac into this cool car-truck! Thanks to Ikey H. for this bodacious find! It’s for sale with an asking price of $14,900 here on craigslist in Chicago, Illinois. 

The first thing I look at when I’m viewing one of these conversions, be it -mino or -chero, is the quality of the integration of the bed opening. This one appears to be done well but does not get full points from me as it doesn’t have an opening tailgate (I realize it’s tougher when you aren’t starting with a station wagon).

Okay, I admit it, I’d like it better if the side window were smoothed into the shape with a small triangular window behind it (even a “fake” window that was over metal) but I do think the vinyl top is a nice period way of hiding any imperfections from the attachment of the rear window. I wish there were some closeups of that area.

The interior is typical Caddy for the time, although the seam separation below the driver is a little disappointing for the price. Think of it as a negotiation point.

I wonder if the seller fixed the glove compartment door (from back when it might have actually held gloves) that the ghost of duct tape past has obviously been holding up? More importantly for those of us in the South, are those air conditioning vents? Why I think they are!

Sure enough, there’s an air conditioning compressor there. And just as predictably, there’s no air conditioning belt! Another negotiation point! What do you think about this classy pickup — is there a spot for it in your collection?

Comments

  1. Avatar Ike Onick

    Yep, a “One-Off” that we have seen about 20 iterations of over the years.

    Like 3
  2. Avatar William Shields

    The style of the conversion makes me wonder if it started life as a flower car/truck for a funeral home.
    Would explain the lack of tailgate.

    Like 20
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      Yup, that was my instant thought too. No mention of owner having done the conversion himself and car seems to have been in this condition for decades. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a coach-builder’s tag sitting somewhere on the vehicle.

      Unlike ambulance and hearse conversions I’m not sure whether coach-builders would make use of a ‘commercial chassis’ to make a flower car. If that was the case here its vin would verify its origin

      Like 3
      • Avatar Miguel

        Sheriff, this car has the flat windshield. All commercial cars from 1961 had the wrap around windshield.

        This car started as a regular Cadillac model.

        Like 0
  3. Avatar KeithK

    Hmmmm. Flower car was my first guess too but look at the red body colored engine room bulkhead/ firewall. I went there first assuming it would be black. But if we’ve all learned anything, you know ,that means nothing.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Scott Huntington

      I spent the summer of ’81 in Calgary, AB, and I remember the McInnis & Holloway funeral home there had all red hearses and funeral coaches.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Chuck

    Check out the open driver door; black jam, so pretty sure it was a black car to begin with.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar leiniedude Member

    It would be nice looking as a convertable.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Angel Cadillac Diva Member

    This was never a flower car from a funeral home. 1) Those are built on an elongated chassis. 2). This wasn’t even a Sedan de Ville, it was a Coupe de Ville. 3) Flower cars had a tailgate.
    4) Flower cars are 4-doors
    Anything else you want to know?

    Like 4
    • Avatar KevinR

      If you type “1961 Cadillac flower car” into Bing, this is the first car that shows up, complete with a custom license plate “FLWR CAR”

      This car does not have Coupe de Ville doors on it.

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Bob McK

    Could be fun to own and drive. Just because it is different.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar PairsNPaint

    Once again, using a 4 door for such a conversion throws the proportions all out of whack. Starting with a 2 door (while necessitating a shorter bed) would have allowed a much prettier, smoother roof line.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar YooperMike

    Nice write up.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jamie Palmer Staff

      Thank you!

      Like 0
  10. Avatar Angel Cadillac Diva Member

    @KevinR

    When Cadillac ships a car to the hearse/flower car coach builders, such as S&S, they ship a commercial chassis with an engine, front clip, dashboard and steering wheel. Everything else is custom made at the coach builders.
    I can’t imagine why this car would show up on Bing when typing in “flower car”.
    If, as they say this car does not have Coupe de Ville doors, then it was a Sedan de Ville customized into a “pickup.”
    Whatever this cars story is, it was never a flowercar.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Miguel

      No it wasn’t as it does not have the commercial chassis windshield.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Chuck

        Not sure what the windshield issue is about. What is a commercial windshield? Can someone post a photo please.

        Like 1
  11. Avatar JimZ Member

    Interesting, but I still prefer my 74 Eldo-Camino!

    Like 1

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